1. Characteristics and Factors Associated With Pain in Older Homeless Individuals: Results From the Health Outcomes in People Experiencing Homelessness in Older Middle Age (HOPE HOME) Study
- Author
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Landefeld, John C, Miaskowski, Christine, Tieu, Lina, Ponath, Claudia, Lee, Christopher T, Guzman, David, and Kushel, Margot
- Subjects
Male ,Aging ,Chronic pain ,Medical and Health Sciences ,Cohort Studies ,Interviews as Topic ,7.1 Individual care needs ,Risk Factors ,Clinical Research ,Anesthesiology ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Prevalence ,Odds Ratio ,Humans ,Stress Disorders ,Aged ,Arthritis ,homeless persons ,Pain Research ,Psychology and Cognitive Sciences ,Homelessness ,Middle Aged ,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ,United States ,Brain Disorders ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Mental Health ,Good Health and Well Being ,Multivariate Analysis ,Ill-Housed Persons ,Post-Traumatic ,post-traumatic stress disorder ,Female ,Management of diseases and conditions - Abstract
Individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States are aging; little is known about chronic pain in this population. In a cross-sectional, population-based study, we interviewed 350 homeless individuals aged 50years and older to describe pain experienced by older persons experiencing homelessness and to assess factors associated with chronic moderate to severe pain, defined as pain lasting ≥3months, with a past week average severity score of 5 to 10 (scale 0-10). The median age of participants was 58years. Participants were predominantly African American (79.6%) and male (77.3%). Overall, 46.8% reported chronic moderate to severe pain. Almost half of participants reported a diagnosis of arthritis (44.3%) and one-third reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 32.8%). Three-quarters (75.3%) endorsed a personal history of abuse. In multivariate analyses, PTSD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-3.7), arthritis (AOR: 4.8, 95% CI, 3.0-7.8), and history of experiencing abuse (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI, 1.3-4.3) were associated with chronic moderate to severe pain. HIV status, diabetes, depressive symptoms, and substance use were not associated with pain. Clinicians should consider the management of associated mental health conditions and the sequelae of experiencing abuse in the treatment of chronic pain in older adults experiencing homelessness.PerspectiveThis article describes the prevalence and factors associated with chronic pain in older homeless adults. Almost half report chronic pain, which was associated with PTSD, arthritis, and personal history of abuse. Clinicians should address chronic pain, trauma, and the associated mental health conditions in this high-risk population.
- Published
- 2017